New Bedford man arraigned in Superior Court for Fairhaven murder

FALL RIVER — The New Bedford man charged in the "brutal" slaying of a 69-year-old retired Fairhaven school teacher pleaded not guilty Monday at his arraignment in Superior Court.

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By CURT BROWN

southcoasttoday.com

By CURT BROWN

Posted Dec. 3, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By CURT BROWN
Posted Dec. 3, 2013 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

FALL RIVER — The New Bedford man charged in the "brutal" slaying of a 69-year-old retired Fairhaven school teacher pleaded not guilty Monday at his arraignment in Superior Court.

Joshua J. Silva, 36, of 26 Oak St., was ordered held without bail on murder and armed robbery charges by Judge Thomas F. McGuire Jr. in the death of Joyce N. Howland. The case was continued until Jan. 14 for a pre-trial conference.

Prosecutors, who have described the slaying as "brutal," said Silva entered the retired school teacher's Hamlet Street home, stole her jewelry and slashed her throat.

Bristol County District Attorney C. Samuel Sutter has said her head was nearly severed.

The suspect and another worker had installed insulation in the attic of Howland's home on Oct. 11.

Her body was found by a friend about 11:11 a.m. on Oct. 15, lying face down in her bedroom on a blood-soaked area rug. Prosecutors believe she was killed on Oct. 14, based on the medical examiner's findings and because the victim did not go to a trivia event she was planning to attend that night, according to the district attorney's office and court documents.

Prosecutors have said that DNA tests on "a mark" on the suspect's khaki pants, which had been discarded in a plastic bag and then thrown in a trash barrel outside a residence on McGurk Street in New Bedford, came back as the victim's blood.

Silva's arraignment in Superior Court follows his indictment last month by a Bristol County Grand Jury. He has been held without bail since his arraignment on Oct. 30 in New Bedford District Court.

Christopher P. Belezos, who is Silva's court-appointed lawyer, said it is "very early" in the process and he is still gathering information in the case.